AUBURN, Mass. – Almost 34 percent of students screened in the Auburn School System are overweight or obese, according to a statewide childhood obesity study conducted as part of the Mass in Motion initiative.

The results break down the level of overweight or obese students compared to the total student body. Findings are based on the body mass index chart, and are also broken down by gender.

“Mass in Motion aims to promote wellness and to prevent overweight and obesity in Massachusetts – with a particular focus on the importance of healthy eating and physical activity,” said the release accompanying the findings.

Below is a breakdown of Auburn and statewide results. For the full study, click here.

In Auburn, out of 712 total students screened in the 2010-11 school year, 33.7 percent were reported as overweight or obese; 36.7 percent of males were reported as overweight or obese, compared to 31 percent of females.

Statewide, 205,784 total students were screened, with 32.4 percent reported as overweight or obese; 34 percent of male students in the state were reported as overweight or obese, compared to 30.7 percent for females.

2.5 percent of students in the state were reported as underweight.

The Needham school district had the lowest percentage of overweight/obese students at 14.8 percent, while Southbridge was reported as the highest with 51.8 percent.

According to the study: “The percentage of overweight and obese students is negatively correlated with median household income: among local and regional academic school districts that reported screening results for 100 or more students and included results for all four grades, the lower the median household income in a town, the higher the percentage of overweight and obese students.”

Comments (2)

Do we really need a BMI to qualify a healthy weight? Seriously, all it takes is one look. THe BMI test seems to be the politically correct way of saying: "Kids need to get off the couch, move more, be more active, eat less and eat healthier," Not just kids, we all do.